Imagine working all day in 100-degree plus temperatures under constant life-threatening circumstances, sometimes relying only on the negligible amount of hydration from a cactus you’ve dug up. This is the life of a U.S. Army soldier in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, which is why the U.S. Army Desert Operations Handbook is a vital reference for survival in one of the harshest environments in the world. This official guide covers how to plan and conduct operations, how the environment affects personnel and equipment, and most importantly, how to survive and receive supplies in the desert. The obvious problems with extreme temperatures are water location and mobility. However, from handling and caring for firearms to operating and fueling a tank, the entire game changes in the dry, sandy desert conditions. The skills in this guide are taken from lessons learned in real combat situations. Success in desert operations requires the ability to adapt with constant terrain and temperature changes, which are often drastic within the same twenty-four–hour period. All the while, the soldier must be able to move within a unit without being visible to unfriendly groups. This combat-tested manual is sure to arm anyone with the skills necessary to survive in the desert.

Imagine working all day in 100-degree plus temperatures under constant life-threatening circumstances, sometimes relying only on the negligible amount of hydration from a cactus you’ve dug up. This is the life of a U.S. Army soldier in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, which is why the U.S. Army Desert Operations Handbook is a vital reference for survival in one of the harshest environments in the world. This official guide covers how to plan and conduct operations, how the environment affects personnel and equipment, and most importantly, how to survive and receive supplies in the desert. The obvious problems with extreme temperatures are water location and mobility. However, from handling and caring for firearms to operating and fueling a tank, the entire game changes in the dry, sandy desert conditions. The skills in this guide are taken from lessons learned in real combat situations. Success in desert operations requires the ability to adapt with constant terrain and temperature changes, which are often drastic within the same twenty-four–hour period. All the while, the soldier must be able to move within a unit without being visible to unfriendly groups. This combat-tested manual is sure to arm anyone with the skills necessary to survive in the desert.

"Desert Operations" (FM 90-3/FMFM 7-27) is the Army's and Marine Corps' manual for desert operations. It is a key reference for commanders and staffs regarding how the desert affects personnel, equipment, and operations. It will assist them in planning and conducting combat operations in desert environments. Arid regions make up about one-third of the earth's land surface, a higher percentage than that of any other type of climate. As we have seen in the recent past, some of these regions-because of diverse and conflicting cultures, strategic importance, and natural resources-have become centers of conflict. Desert operations demand adaptation to the environment and to the limitations imposed by terrain and climate. Success depends on an appreciation of the effects of arid conditions on soldiers (both physically and psychologically), on equipment and facilities, and on combat and support operations. Leaders and Soldiers must continually evaluate the situation and be ready to react to changing conditions. The key to success in desert operations is mobility. This was clearly evident in the ground operations of Desert Storm. Arid regions create both opportunities and restraints for soldiers and marines at all levels. The US military's performance in Desert Storm shows it understands these factors and has successfully addressed the effects of desert warfare on troops, equipment, and operations. As they prepare for the future, leaders, soldiers, and marines must study past campaigns and use the lessons they learn to reduce casualties, use the environment to their advantage, and ensure victory on the desert battlefield.

A penetrating look inside an armored cavalry regiment -- the technology, the strategies, and the people . . . profiled by Tom Clancy. His first non-fiction book, Submarine, captured the reality of life aboard a nuclear warship. Now, the #1 bestselling author of Clear and Present Danger and Without Remorse portrays today's military as only army personnel can know it. With the same compelling, you-are-there immediacy of his acclaimed fiction, Tom Clancy provides detailed descriptions of tanks, helicopters, artillery, and more -- the brilliant technology behind the U. S. Army. He captures military life -- from the drama of combat to the daily routine -- with total accuracy, and reveals the roles and missions that have in recent years distinguished our fighting forces. Armored Cav includes: Descriptions of the M1A2 Main Battle Tank, the AH-64A Apache Attack Helicopter, and more An interview with General Frederick Franks Strategies behind the Desert Storm account Exclusive photograph, illustrations and diagrams PLUS: From West Point cadet to Desert Storm commander . . . an interview with a combat cavalry officer on the rise.

An account of operations by the embarked Marine units in the Persian Gulf from Aug. 1990 to May 1991. Tells the story of the 4th & 5th Marine Expeditionary Brig. (MEBs) & the 13th & 11th Marine Exped. Units (MEUs) which comprised the Marine Forces Afloat (MFA) during Operations Desert Shield (ODS) & Desert Storm. The MFA came into existence early in ODS when the seaborne 4th MEB joined the forward-deployed 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the North Arabian Sea in mid-Sep. These Marines were later joined by the 5th Marine Exped. Brig. during what would become the longest continuous shipboard deployment by a brigade-sized force in Marine Corps history. Maps.